Wey Cameras

[george_b]

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I've had a newsletter from Wey Cameras in Weybridge, Surrey, UK. It seems that there may be an end of an era.

The property lease expires soon, the current business owner is dis-inclined to take on a new lease and there seems to be no takers for the business. Seems such a shame in that over the years I may not have been their best customer but thay have sold me an R5, R7, Digilux 2 and my M8 plus other bits and pieces.

I guess the world moves on, I remember visiting Hove Camera company in the middle / late 1960's who are sadly no more.

It is just that living in Sussex it is great to have local dealers rather mail order or the trek into London.

[calshot]

I sold all my Leica gear to Hove Camera Co. I needed the money for a new roof.Wonder what a new roof is worth today? That would be the value of all my old gear I expect.

 

Rob

[earleygallery]

I remember Hove, I had my lllf checked out there once, and went to a Leica day. Can't remember what I bought from them, a few bits oh and the Hove pocket book on my desk here!

[marknorton]

Wey Cameras may be an exception, but my very limited experience of visiting others has been pretty dismal. There's a certain attitude problem which I can do without. What they need to understand is that they are emphatically not doing me a favour. I prefer mail order.

[george_b]

Wey Cameras may be an exception, but my very limited experience of visiting others has been pretty dismal. There's a certain attitude problem which I can do without. What they need to understand is that they are emphatically not doing me a favour. I prefer mail order.

They are an exception, most helpful over the phone and on personal visits.

[jlancasterd]

Wey Cameras may be an exception, but my very limited experience of visiting others has been pretty dismal. There's a certain attitude problem which I can do without. What they need to understand is that they are emphatically not doing me a favour. I prefer mail order.

 

Mark

 

I think that the 'attitude problem' - the snooty assumption that only a big-city store can possibly know anything about something so up-market as a Leica - is something which is more common in Metropolitan stores than elsewhere and is not necessarily replicated outside the South East - I've had excellent, over-the-counter, service from Cambrian Photography in Colwyn Bay and Ffordes in the far north - also excellent mail/internet service from Robert White.

 

If you get bad service, go somewhere else - mail order helps but it isn't the answer when you want to look/handle before purchase

[Guest flatfour]

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Those of us who used to visit Hove when David Grossmark ran the business remember a real enthusiast and truly knowledgeable staff. I was once invited upstairs to see his collection. Must have been worth quite a lot even then. A great shame that those days have gone but such is progress. Wey Cameras had a similar background where it was a pleasure to look through the stock..

[delander †]

Wey Cameras may be an exception, but my very limited experience of visiting others has been pretty dismal. There's a certain attitude problem which I can do without. What they need to understand is that they are emphatically not doing me a favour. I prefer mail order.

 

Wey Cameras are OK Mark. I have bought all of my Leica M8 gear there recently, nice friendly people to deal with and talk to and great traditional photographic shop to go into.

 

I was saddened to read their newsletter, especially at a time when Leica has revived itself. Hands-on shops are becoming a rarity.

 

Jeff

[andybarton]

I've had excellent, over-the-counter, service from Cambrian Photography in Colwyn Bay and Ffordes in the far north ...

 

 

I have had a good experience at Cambrian too (if going in for a filter and coming out with a 50 Summicron is a "good experience" ), but have had good and bad experience with Ffordes, I'm afraid. Wilkinsons in Preston are good, but the best place in the NW is definitely Stephens in Manchester, in my experience.

[earleygallery]

Ok they're not a Leica dealer, but I love Aperture in London, lots of interesting stuff and very very nice people too. I just bought a tele elmar from them.

[george_b]

Those of us who used to visit Hove when David Grossmark ran the business remember a real enthusiast and truly knowledgeable staff. ..

 

I remember David very well. They used to do their regular newsletters wheich were a mine of information. The last time I met him was in the far NW of Scotland near Ullapool whilst I was working on a submarine cabling project; he was there in an ancient Rolls Royce doing a rally with enthusiasts.